* Nikkei 225 Stock Average: +28.62 (+0.2%) to 18,240.30, highest close since May 2, 2000, eclipsing ytd high set 2/26; 6-day rally longest since Dec. 11-18, 2006
* Nikkei 225 futures Osaka: +20 (+0.1%) to 18,260
* TOPIX: +5.66 (+0.3%) to 1,789.38; Advancers 954 x decliners 634 (unchanged 144); New highs 75 x new lows 23; 20/33 sectors posted gains
* Jasdaq: +0.14 (+0.2%) to 82.86
* Nintendo (JP: 7974) (NTDOY.PK) reaches Y45,000 intra-day, a new all-time high, but closes down 0.5% to Y44,300. Its market cap exceeds Matsushita’s (JP: 6752) (MC) and is rapidly approaching Sony’s (JP: 6758) (SNE), in spite of its being sales 1/8 of its CE rivals. Sony investors seem unimpressed w/ CEO Stringer’s remarks at its annual meeting. String says the company is shifting to growth/profitability; has learned from mistakes.
* Mitsui & Co. (JP: 8031) (MITSY) climbed 3% to Y2,585 renewing its highs.